It was the wild punch that not only changed a game but set the stage for an explosive Origin II in Sydney.

However, the victim of Michael Jennings' game one haymaker - Brent Tate - reckoned he had no idea he had been struck by the New South Wales flyer until team-mates told him after Queensland's 18-10 win.

All New South Wales' early good work in the series opener in Melbourne was undone when Jennings was sin-binned for running in and landing a reckless hook on Tate as a brawl erupted.

It not only turned the match in Queensland's favour but ensured simmering tensions for the re-match in Sydney.

As a result, Queensland forward David Shillington admitted "tempers are sure to boil over" in game two.

However, Shillington revealed Tate was oblivious to Jennings' now infamous shot at the time.

"Someone asked about Jennings' hit after the game and he (Tate) said `did he?'," Shillington said.

"Brent said he didn't even realise he got hit.

"Someone even said (New South Wales half-back) Mitchell Pearce took a swing at me but I didn't even realise - I haven't even seen the replay yet.

"That's just what happens in the arena sometimes. It is so intense."

Shillington did not harbour any ill-feeling toward Jennings, who made it clear he would not be backing down in game two despite the punch earning a one-match ban.

But the towering Queensland forward could not make the same promise for the rest of his team.

"Origin is about protecting your mate and doing it for each other - us against them," he said.

"He (Jennings) just got caught up in all that emotion, saw a stink and ran in to do his part.

"Obviously it wasn't that desirable what he did but he paid the penalty by going to the sin bin and putting his team under pressure.

"But something like that will happen every game because of the intensity of the match - tempers are sure to boil over (in game two)."

Game one man of the match, Queensland's Nate Myles, was also bracing himself for some New South Wales fire and brimstone.

"It's always a fiery one in Origin. I don't expect any different especially at their home ground," he said.

The game one brawl was sparked by an altercation between Maroons prop Matt Scott and Myles' Gold Coast Titans club team-mate - and New South Wales rival - Greg Bird.

Myles secretly hoped history did not repeat in Origin II - for his own sake.

"We get along well. I actually went to dinner with him the other night," Myles said of Bird.

"But truth be told he would probably bash me in a fight. I'm a lover, he's a fighter."